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WIZZ MAGAZINE
Barcelona, Spain
TOUCH DOWN
Barcelona never truly hibernates
but, like a beautiful reptile
–
represented by Gaudi’s
technicolour lizard at the gates
of
Park Güell
(
pictured right
) –
the spring sun warms her glassy
skin and spurs her into activity.
Café terraces, plaza benches and
park lawns fill up with
cerveza
-
swigging locals, tourists ram
La Rambla and burst onto the
beach... and the festival season
gets under way.
GET OUT
Sant Jordi
(
St. George) is the
patron saint of Catalonia and on
his feast day, 23 April, tradition
dictates that men should regale
their women with flowers, and
that women should offer their
menfolk a sturdy book in return.
Buy either from the stalls on
La Rambla
.
From 26 April to
5
May,
La Feria de Abril
comes
to town, bringing flamenco,
Ferris wheels and candy floss
from the south of Spain to the
Parc del Forum
.
EAT WELL
El Boo
beach club
(
Espigó
de Bac de Roda 1, +34 932
250 100)
serves up fresh
fritters and
frutos del mar,
plus
cocktails on its terrace. And if
the temperature drops in the
evening, the Flemish beef stew
at
Gilda
(
Calle Ample 34, +34
93 31 03 492)
will put some fire
back in your belly.
DRINK UP
At
Milk Bar
(
C/Gignas 21,
+34 932 680 922)
order a
Bucharest, Romania
TOUCH DOWN
Bucharest does spring
magnificently, with locals
emerging from their long
winter hibernation and heading
for the nearest terrace the
moment the temperature allows.
Even the smallest café, bar or
restaurant will find at least
one table to stick outside on
the pavement.
GET OUT
While the impressive Palace
of Parliament gives concrete
a good name, the city is home
to some magnificent parks,
and they all bloom in spring,
each trying to outdo the other
with their fabulous flower
displays.
Cismigiu Gardens
(
pictured left
),
in the city centre,
is the pick of the bunch.
EAT WELL
The stunning interiors, great
Romanian food and Old Town
location of
Caru’ cu Bere
(
Strada Stavropoleos 5, +40 21
313 7560)
mean you will
need to wait for a table here
if you have not booked
(
especially if you want to sit
outside). The
platou
of grilled
meats for two is great value.
Also in the Old Town is
Divan
(
Strada Franceza 46-48, +40
21 312 3034)
.
With great value
Turkish food, superb wine,
live music and dancing at
weekends, and a wide selection
of aromatic tobaccos to smoke
from a hookah pipe.
DRINK UP
If you don’t visit
Biutiful
(
Strada
Gabroveni 6-8, +40 737 297
297)
while in Bucharest, then
you’ve missed out on the most
amazing bar to open here in
years. It’s serves good beer,
cocktails and bar food to an
extremely hip crowd of locals.
GETTING TO THE CENTRE
See page 107 for details.
Words by Craig Turp
BUCHAREST'S TOP
FIVE PARKS
1.
Cismigiu Gardens
2.
Botanical Gardens
3.
Tineretului Park
4.
Herastrau Park
5.
Carol Park
FLAMENCO FEVER!
Want to swish your skirt
with the best of them at La
Feria de Abril? Why not go
to a Flamenco workshop?
See
barcelonaflamenco.es
for more information
Daiquiri cocktail and plan
your Barcelona bar crawl of
the Gothic District.
GETTING TO THE CENTRE
See page 107 for details.
Words by Duncan Rhodes
S P R I NG T I M E GU I D E S
